Co-op of the Day: 154 Bergen Street, #2
We’re not sure it’s quite worth $850,000, but this floor-through apartment at 154 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill sure is nice looking. It helps that the two-bedroom co-op is located in a 25-foot-wide house. It’s also one of those pretty rare examples of where an owner has managed to managed to create a clean, modern…
We’re not sure it’s quite worth $850,000, but this floor-through apartment at 154 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill sure is nice looking. It helps that the two-bedroom co-op is located in a 25-foot-wide house. It’s also one of those pretty rare examples of where an owner has managed to managed to create a clean, modern vibe without sacrificing the essence of an old townhouse. What do you think it’ll end up going for?
154 Bergen Street, #2 [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
I think the comment about smart kids from public schools applying to private schools was made in the context of public elementary kids switching to private middle schools. The explanation is pretty obvious – there are lots of highly regarded public K-5 schools in the brownstone belt, but fewer coveted 6-8 schools.
11217: I agree about cursive (although I lament its demise); however, your statement about private schools RARELY teaching art seems inaccurate to me. Are you basing this on any schools in particular? Seems to me that even the local private schools in the two areas we’re talking about have strong art programs; St. Ann’s, Packer, Berkley, Brooklyn Friends, etc.
Also, it’s quite a generalization to say that private school kids are more fucked up than public school kids. You can find fucked up and neglected kids–although the type of neglect may differ.
If you’re doing more than ranting, please provide some specific insights to back up your generalizations.
I’m a firm believer in public schools, but I also recognize they can’t serve _everyone_. Children have different needs, and my wife and I discuss that, while we hope our kids thrive in public school, we can’t force something on them just because we believe in it. All we can do is find a way to try to accommodate their needs.
“They no longer teacher cursive in most publics bcs it’s not on any test for example.”
Why is this important for any reason other than tradition? I learned cursive and NEVER write in cursive. Most people type now instead of write anyway.
See, it’s things like this that people complain about the public schools, but personally I’m much happier they are spending time on the arts (which they RARELY do in private school) than learning cursive, which in 2010 is pretty darn useles.
I’m not surprised the slope one went into contract quickly. We won’t know the sales price for a while, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was around asking. The maintenance is high, and while I don’t care about a doorman, some do and that’s what factors in here. I prefer the Boerum Hill location in terms of it’s feel compared to 8th ave (and I’m not a north slope fan, necessarily) but the Park has to factor in here, especially with the views. Also, a four unit co-op versus the size of the park slope one (seems like it has plenty of units if this is a 10th floor unit) really factors in here too. Sure, common charges of around $500 a month are great if nothing goes wrong, but when something does (new roof? new boiler? repointing?) then you and three other units bear the cost–not ideal.
That stretch of Bergen is lovely (if somewhat heavily trafficked for a side street) and I could definitely imagine living in the second floor of a 25′ brownstone on that block, just not for $850K. Things in this area do fetch some surprising prices, but this seems more like cobble hill pricing than boerum hill. Another issue here is Terry Naini, who has come up in Brownstoner before, and seems, to put it nicely, optimistic in her pricing. Could be that this is priced for a 10% negotiation or chop, which seems silly. It seems like the places that go quickly or for near/above asking right now price themselves in such a way as to get interested buyers through the door and then hope you get two parties interested enough to make things interesting.
I’m a big believer in public schools too, but I think NCLB has been a disaster.
The entire curriculum is geared to the tests so even if you don’t think you’re doing test prep, I think you. They no longer teacher cursive in most publics bcs it’s not on any test for example. And I think 1.5-2 hours a DAY of test prep for weeks before any specific test is ridiculous.
I think the overcrowded schools have less to do with their popularity than the baby boom in the city (something like 40% more kids under 8 in the city than 5 years ago) and development within popular zones. Applications to private schools are up too.
I know a very limited number of parents to be sure, but it’s a number that’s in the hundreds. I’m speaking for that very specific POV, but so is anyone know thinks the smart kids from public school kids who apply to private schools are best students (which begs the question why are the smart kids from public school applying to private schools).
I think there are great public schools here, today. And parochial schools. And private schools. But I do think George Bush left his mark.
Boerumresident – correct, insideschools.org has it as 38 (450 Pacific – btwn Hoyt & Smith). I live very close to PS 38 and always thought it was just a so-so or below average school. But this past weekend I was in BookCourt glancing through an annual guide of Brooklyn schools and it got a pretty decent rating. Not sure how it is relative to 261.
Take it with a grain of salt; I’m not the household expert on schools. I just nod obediently when baby momma tells me which school princess is going to attend.
According to the DOE’s website, it’s zoned for PS 38. Go to http://maps.nycboe.net/index.asp?street=BERGEN%20ST%20%20&addBoro=3&hsenum=154&action=addGeo
This building is on the east side of Hoyt, which I think are all zoned that way.
I’m a huge believer in the public school system, for better or for worse.
Most people I know who went to private school hated it and are way more f*cked up than those who went to public school.
This is not scientific, but just my take on the matter.
The fact that the areas with good public schools demand quite a premium with regard to housing seems to prove the point.
Just to correct my above post — if this apartment is zoned for PS 261, that is an excellent school. If it is zoned for PS 38, not as good.